Dragonborn Rising Ch. 34

After breakfast the next morning, I asked to speak with Arngeir alone. We walked outside, the blizzard of the previous day replaced by sunlight, blue sky, but bitterly cold temperatures. Pulling my coat tight, we walked towards one of the firepits. Before our conversation even began, eyes turned towards the monastery, as the other three Greybeards approached, though stayed back for the time being.

"What is it you need of the Greybeards, Dragonborn?"

"I need to learn the Shout to defeat Alduin, Master."

"Where did you learn of that? Who have you been talking to?" he asked quickly, and if I didn't know him any better, what I said... angered him.

The abrupt line of questions certainly had me blinking in surprise. "The Blades, Master. They are assisting me."

That earned nothing but a scoff. "The Blades! Of course. They specialise in meddling in matters they barely understand. Their reckless arrogance knows no bounds. They have always sought to turn the Dragonborn from the path of wisdom. Have you learned nothing from us? Would you simply be a tool in the hands of the Blades, to be used for their own purposes?"

"Now hang on a second. As far as I'm aware, all the Blades want to do is help me defeat Alduin. They don't want to see the world end, nor do I. Do you want it to end?"

"What I want is irrelevant. This Shout was used once before, was it not? And here we are again. Have you considered that Alduin was not meant to be defeated? Those who overthrew him in ancient times only postponed the day of reckoning, they did not stop it. If the world is meant to end, so be it. Let it end and be reborn."

"But the prophecy says..." I trailed off, figuring he wouldn't really care what a prophecy said, so I simply asked, "Will you not help me save the world, Master?"

I could see he was angered, but also... well, probably a little saddened. While I respected the Way of the Voice, I knew that in my battle against Alduin I would likely have to stray from the path at times. What I knew at heart is that I would not be a tool for the Greybeard or the Blades. I was my own man and, once I knew the whole truth, would make my own decisions.

"No, Dragonborn," Arngeir finally stated, "I will not help until you return to the path of wisdom."

I'll admit, his response pissed me off. I respected the man, but I thought he was being utterly stubborn and was letting his dislike of the Blades cloud his judgement. I didn't want to argue with him, but before I could walk away, one of the other Greybeards approached us.

"Arngeir. Rak los Dovahkiin, Strundu'ul. Rok fen tinvak Paarthurnax."

I didn't understand what he'd said, but I watched Arngeir for a reaction. His face fell, shoulders slumped. It wasn't one of defeat, but there was no doubt he was saddened by whatever thoughts crossed his mind. He reached out a hand, beckoning me back to him. "Dragonborn, wait. Forgive me. I was intemperate. I allowed my emotions to cloud my judgment."

"Nothing to forgive, Master. This issue affects us all in many different ways."

"Master Einarth reminded me of my duty. The decision whether or not to help you is not mine to make."

"So can you teach me this Shout?"

He gestured again, taking a seat on a bench near the fire. Once sat down, he shook his head. "No. I cannot teach it to you because I do not know it. It is called 'Dragonrend', but its Words of Power are unknown to us. We do not regret this loss. Dragonrend holds no place within the Way of the Voice."

"What's so bad about this Shout?"

"It was created by those who had lived under the unimaginable cruelty of Alduin's Dragon Cult. Their whole lives were consumed with hatred for dragons, and they poured all their anger and hatred into this Shout. When you learn a Shout, you take it into your very being. In a sense, you become the Shout. In order to learn and use this Shout, you will be taking this evil into yourself."

"My past is not altogether clean, Master."

"While that might be the case, learning a Shout such as Dragonrend will leave marks on your very soul."

"Who knows of this Shout, if anyone? If not, who can assist me in defeating Alduin? There must be a way to defeat him."

"Only our leader, Paarthurnax, may know an answer to those questions." He paused before sighing. "I will be honest, Dragonborn. I do not believe you are ready to meet him yet. There are many reasons why, but there is no point explaining it now. Thanks to the Blades, you now have questions that only Paarthurnax can answer."

The four Greybeards gathered around the fire as they explained where Paarthurnax was and what I required to make it to the peak of the mountain. I learned a new Shout from them, something called 'Clear Skies'. Once I had learned it, Arngeir continued. "This is your final gift from us, Dragonborn. Use it well. Clear Skies will blow away the mist, but only for a time. The path to Paarthurnax is perilous, not to be embarked upon lightly. Keep moving, stay focused on your goal, and you will reach the summit."

"Master," I stated, offering my hand, "You have my thanks."

That earned a flicker of a smile as he gripped my hand with both of his. "No matter what, High Hrothgar will always be open to you, Dragonborn."

"Can you let Aela and Lydia know I'll be gone a little while?" He nodded as I added, "Hopefully I'll be back with some good news."

I had to use the new Shout a few times to clear winds that would have ripped me apart, or so it seemed. Even when standing a few metres away, I could feel the cold. But apart from biting winds, the mountain was clear of wildlife or anything else that may have wanted to attack me. The snow was thick under foot, in absolute pristine condition. I had a feeling the Greybeards never ventured up this way.

I stopped occasionally to take in the view. Though there was cloud cover, through the gaps I could see what felt like the edge of Tamriel itself. I had no idea how high I was, but I could feel I was starting to struggle for breath. Perhaps air gets thinner the higher up one travels? It wasn't enough to make me ill, but I was noticing a subtle difference.

Reaching the crest, I wasn't surprised to a word wall, though it was partially crumbling. No surprise considering it was exposed to the elements. But that's not what grabbed my attention. No, it was the dragon that seemed to appear out of nowhere. I unsheathed my weapon, ready for it to attack, but all it did was hover above the word wall before sitting down, where it then looked at me in silence, cocking its head slightly.

I had a funny feeling, one of amusement, as I sheathed my weapon and strode forward, albeit with a little caution. If the dragon wanted to attack me, it could and would have done already.

"Drem Yo Lok. Greetings, wunduniik. I am Paarthurnax. Who are you? What brings you to my strunmah... My mountain?"

"I'm sure you know who I am. I'd figure a dragon would sense one of their own, for want of a better word." I chuckled as I added, "Should have known you were a dragon. It explains why Arngeir was so hesitant about me meeting you."

"You speak true, Dovahkiin. As for the Greybeards, they see me as master. Wuth. Onik. Old and wise. It is true I am old..." The dragon paused, fixing me with its eyes completely as it added, "Why do you come here, volaan? Why do you intrude on my meditation?"

"Alduin has returned. I need to learn the 'Dragonrend' Shout."

"Drem. Patience. There are formalities which must be observed, at the first meeting of two of the dov. By long tradition, the elder speaks first. Hear my Thu'um! Feel it in your bones! Match it, if you are Dovahkiin!"

Paarthurnax dropped down onto the ground and breathed fire against the word wall. I heard all three words it used. "YOL... TOOR... SHUL!" Glancing back, Paarthurnax beckoned me to approach the word wall. "The Word calls you. Go to it." As I walked towards it, something similar to many of the other word walls, and also when I'd learned words from the Greybeards occurred. "A gift, Dovahkiin. Yol. Understand Fire as the dov do."

"You have my thanks."

"Now, show me what you can do. Greet me not as a mortal but as dovah! Do not be afraid. Faasnu. Let me feel the power of your Thu'um." Shrugging, I took a few steps back and breathed fire into the dragons' face. Paarthurnax seemed to appreciate that, snorting approval. "Aaah... Yes! Sossedov los mul. The dragon blood runs strong in you. It is long since I had the pleasure of speech with one of my own kind. So, you have made your way here, to me. No easy task for a joor... mortal. Even for one of Dovah Sos. Dragon Blood. What would you ask of me?"

"Can you teach me the 'Dragonrend' Shout?"

"Ah. I have expected you. Prodah. You would not come all this way for tinvaak with an old dovah. No. You seek your weapon against Alduin."

"Tinvaak? Conversation?" The dragon nodded. "Tell you what, once all this is over, I'll happily sit and talk with you all day, but at the moment, Alduin is doing the gods only know what."

"Alduin and Dovahkiin return together. But, I do not know the Thu'um you seek. Krosis." I think that last word might have meant apologies. Paarthurnax continued before I could ask another question. "It cannot be known to me. Your kind, joorre, mortals, created it as a weapon against the dov... the dragons. Our hadrimme, our minds cannot even... comprehend its concepts."

"Arngeir did mention it was a Shout of hate and perhaps evil. A sign of the times." The dragon nodded again, perhaps in agreement. "How or where can I learn it?"

"First, a question for you. Why do you want to learn this Thu'um?"

A fair question. According to Delphine, I was to journey across Skyrim, and perhaps Tamriel, slaying dragons. The Greybeards thought I should take a more peaceful route. I already knew I'd never do any harm to Paarthurnax, but I can only guess he wanted to know my motives. "Two reasons. First, I need to stop Alduin."

"Yes. Alduin... Zeymah. The elder brother. Gifted, grasping and troublesome as is so often the case with firstborn. But why? Why must you stop Alduin?"

Shrugging, I said, "Simply put, I like this world. And I don't want everyone to die."

"Pruzah. As good a reason as any. There are many who feel as you do, although not all. Some would say that all things must end, so that the next can come to pass. Perhaps this world is simply the egg for the next kalpa? Lein vokiin? Would you stop the next world from being born?"

"A rather philosophical question for a dragon." Raising both hands, I immediately added, "No offence. I just had no idea you enjoyed such debates."

That raised what I figure was a laugh from Paarthurnax. "You have much to learn of the dov, then. There is nothing else but philosophy to a dovah. It is no accident that we do battle with our Thu'um, our Voices. There is no distinction between debate and combat to a dragon. Tinvaak los grah. For us

it is one and the same." He paused, before dipping his head. "You have indulged my weakness for speech long enough. Krosis. Now I will answer your question. Do you know why I live here, at the peak of the Monahven -- what you name Throat of the World?"

"To be honest, I have no idea. Do you like it up here?"

Again, I think that earned a little laugh. "This is the most sacred mountain in Skyrim. Zok revak strunmah. The great mountain of the world. Here the ancient Tongues, the first mortal masters of the Voice, brought Alduin to battle and defeated him."

"I assume with this Dragonrend Shout?"

"Yes and no. Viik nuz ni kron. Alduin was not truly defeated, either. If he was, you would not be here today, seeking to... hmmm, defeat him. The Nords of those days used the Dragonrend Shout to cripple Alduin. But this was not enough. Ok mulaag unslaad. It was the Kel, the Elder Scroll. They used it to cast him adrift on the currents of Time."

I'd heard of the Elder Scrolls before. So I asked, "The ancient Nords sent him forward in time? For what purpose?"

"I do not believe it was intentional. Some hoped he would be gone forever, forever lost. Meyye. I knew better. Tiid bo amativ. Time flows ever onward. One day he would surface. Which is why I have lived here. For thousands of mortal years, I have waited. I knew where he would emerge but not when."

"I can only assume the Elder Scroll can help somehow? How will it help me?"

"Tiid krent. Time was shattered here because of what the ancient Nords did to Alduin. If you brought that Kel, that Elder Scroll back here to the Tiid-Ahraan, the Time-Wound... With the Elder Scroll that was used to break Time, you may be able to cast yourself back. To the other end of the break. You could learn Dragonrend from those who created it."

I'd heard plenty of crazy ideas before, but this one was quite out there. Find an Elder Scroll? Where in oblivion would I find one of those? And I'd heard enough rumours about what reading a Scroll could do to someone. Blindness. Madness. Even death. All rumoured, but I knew they were artefacts, perhaps even treasures, that should not be trifled with.

"I don't suppose you'd know where I can find such a Scroll?"

"Krosis." Okay, that definitely meant 'sorry' or 'apologies. "No. I know little of what has passed below in the long years I have lived here. You are likely better informed than I."

"I'll ask Arngeir and see if he can offer any suggestions. I'd stay and ask more about what happened, but time may be of the essence here. At least I'm making some progress now."

"There will be time to converse upon your return, Dovahkiin."

Bidding Paarthurnax farewell, I made haste back down the mountain, my mind going over the fact I'd just enjoyed a long conversation with a dragon. I had no idea of the dragon's history, but the fact he seemed to know Alduin quite well suggested they had perhaps been involved in the Dragon War together. I didn't know enough about it, but I certainly wouldn't go asking Delphine or Esbern. I doubt they knew about Paarthurnax, and knowing Delphine's opinion about dragon's...

Walking into High Hrothgar, I searched and found Arngeir, the Greybeard meditating in one of the long hallways. He sensed my approach and rose to his feet. "You spoke to Paarthurnax. The dragon-blood burns bright within you. Did he tell you what you wanted to know? Did he teach you the Dragonrend Shout?"

"No, he didn't know it, but he suggested a way I can learn it."

"So be it. If he believes it is necessary for you to learn this, we will bow to his wisdom."

He still didn't sound particularly happy. I knew he trusted me in all this, but I knew he still worried regarding the motives of the Blades, perhaps still believing I could find myself influenced. The only way I could prove myself is by following what I believed was right. "Paarthurnax mentioned an Elder Scroll was used to defeat Alduin. I don't suppose you would know where I could find it?"

"We have never concerned ourselves with the Scrolls. The gods themselves would rightly fear to tamper with such things. As for where to find it, such blasphemies have always been the stock and trade of the mages of Winterhold. They may be able to tell you something about the Elder Scroll you seek."

I was about to ask why he considered them blasphemies, but I'd already had one philosophical discussion that day and didn't particularly want another. Plus, I figured endless questioning might just rile the old man yet again, so I simply thanked him and went looking for Aela and Lydia. They were in the library, where there were at least a dozen enormous bookshelves crammed with books. Both were reading something, though immediately looked up upon my appearance. I explained the conversation I'd had with Paarthurnax, though left out the fact he was a dragon. That was a subject to broach at a later time. It wasn't a case of not trusting them. I believed the Greybeards would rather I not share it with everyone, purely for the safety of them and the dragon.

"It's a little late to head back down the mountain now, so we'll head down first thing tomorrow. If neither of you have any reason to return to Whiterun, I think heading straight to the college would be the best idea."

"What about Delphine and Esbern?" Aela wondered.

"I'll see if I can send them word from Ivarstead, though it will depend on what happens once we reach the college."

At dinner that night, joining the Greybeards as usual, Aela and Lydia filled the silence with plenty of conversation, tempting Arngeir into providing a few answers. Though the other three couldn't speak, they couldn't hide the slight amusement on their faces. While I'm sure they lived happy and fulfilling lives in the monastery, I'm sure they did get lonely at times, and the two women were delightful company.

Knowing we had a long day ahead of us the next day, as though we would probably stop in Ivarstead, I suggested we could make it as far as Darkwater Crossing by nightfall, we behaved that night. Aela slept with me as always, but we remained clothed and apart from the three of us chatting away in the darkness, there was no naughtiness under the furs.

After a quick breakfast with the Greybeards, we bid the four of them farewell and headed back down the mountain. Going down was always much faster, and the weather was clear, barely a cloud in the sky, though it remained cool until we were closer to Iverstead. We made good time, so immediately mounted our horses and rode for Darkwater Crossing, making it to the village by nightfall. There were few buildings, and no tavern, so we joined the few others at the nearby camp.

Knowing that the college was still quite a distance away, we agreed that heading back to Whiterun would probably be the most sensible decision. We could re-supply, I could contact a courier to send a letter to Delphine and Esbern, and then we could make steady progress north.

Walking through the gates of our home having stabled our horses, it felt like weeks since we'd last been home. It hadn't, of course, barely a week if I remembered correctly, but I had a feeling I would be spending more time away from Whiterun than there the way things were going. Lydia headed to Breezehome as Aela and I walked up to Jorrvaskr. The twins were happy to see us as always, immediately sitting down and regaling us with stories. We had a couple of new recruits and contracts were flowing in, and plenty of coin was being made, enough that the twins wanted to start taking a small percentage. I always found it strange that there wasn't some sort of chest where coin was kept so we could buy better supplies, so I agreed with the idea immediately.

After enjoying dinner with Aela and Lydia at the Bannered Mare, we headed home, intent on rising early but we knew it was a two-day trip to the college, so as long as we made it to Windhelm by night, it would be fine. With that in mind, Aela readily invited Lydia into our bedroom that night. Instructing me to sit down, I happily watched as the two put on a little show for me, undressing each other before Aela pushed Lydia back onto the bed, where she began to enjoy her pussy, asking if I'd now like to join in.

I did, and Aela was given a little surprise when I grabbed the bottle that now always sat on the bedside table and immediately started to play with her arse. "Oh, straight to that, are we?" she asked, looking back with a look in her eyes that suggested she wasn't unhappy at all.

"It's been a while, and I'm fucking you there first, then Lydia gets a turn."